Switch and signal apparatus



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. T. HAMBAY. SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS.

No. 333,852. Patented Jan. 5, 1886.

INVENTOR.

WlTNESSESi 0W mm ATIORNEY.

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 2. J. T. HAMBAY. SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS. No. 333,852. Patented Jan. 5, 1886.

I/ V 1 m (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet a.

J. T. HAMBAY. SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS.

No. 333,852. Patented Jan. 5, 1886.

.H I I INVENTOR.

WITNESSES: DW AMM Z A MI 7 ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES T. HAMBAY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 333,852, dated January 5, 1886. Application filed June 11, 1885. Serial No. 168,352. (No model.)

1 provements the following is a specification.

In the accompanying drawings, which make part of this specification, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved switch and signal apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are a side elevation,

a plan, and an end elevation of a modified form of the apparatus. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional elevation, the section being taken on line as m, Fig. 2. Figs. 7, 8, 9, and are detail views, on an enlarged scale, of parts of the apparatus. The invention herein relates to certain improvements in the form of interlocking switch I and signal apparatus embodied in an application, No. 152,609, filed by me January 12, 1885, and has for its object such a construction whereby the shifting of the switch-rails will effect such an adjustment of parts as to permit the setting of that one of two home signals at the junction of main and branch lines as will properly indicate to which line of track the switch has been set. At each corner of the bed 1, secured in convenient proximity to the switch-rails, are formed the posts or pillars 2, forming lateral guides for the slides 3 and 4, arranged one above the other, the lower slide resting upon the bed 1, and the upper slide being supported by transverse strips (not shown) secured between the posts or pillars 2. These slides consist of two plates secured a short distance apart by suitable shouldered rivets or bolts, and at a suitable point between the plates of the lower slide, 4, is located the friction-roller 5, adapted on the reciprocation of the slide to engage one or the other of the prongs 6 and 7," formed on one end of the bellcrank lever 8, pivoted at one side of the bed 1, the arm 9 of said lever being connected by any suitable means known in the art to the switch-rails. The prongs 6 and 7 are so constructed that when the lever has been shifted by the movement of the slide the friction roller or stud 5 will engage a straight portion of said prongs, thereby preventing any accidental movement of the lever.

Between the plates forming the slide 3 are secured the frictionrollers 10 and 11, the roller 10 being arranged to engage the prongs 12 and 13, formed on one end of the lever 14, and the roller 11 being adapted to engage similar prongs, 15 and 16, at one end of the lever 17. The prongs 12 and 16 of these levers are arranged at such an angle to the levers that 011 a partial movement of said levers these prongs will lie in a plane parallel to the movement of the friction-rollers 10 and 11; but these prongs project in opposite directions, as shown in Fig. 2. The outer end of the lever 17 is connected by any suitable means to the distant signal. The outer end of the lever 14 is connected by a bar to the stud 18, formed on top of the block 19, which is provided in its under side with the dovetailed groove 20, constructed to engage the correspondingly-shaped projection 21 of either of the rods 22 or 23, having rectangular end portions adapted to fit in suitable grooves formed in the lateral extension 24 of the bed 1, and parallel, or practically so, to the line of movement of the slides 3 and 4. (See Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9.)

On each side of the extension 24 are formed two posts or pillars, 25, between which is located the shit'ting'plate 26. connected at its inner end to an arm, 27, projecting from the hub of the lever 8. In one side of the shifting-plate, about midway of its length, is formed a notch, 28, for the reception of the block 19, which is moved back and forth by the shifting-plate into engagement with the dovetail projection 21 on either one of the rods 22 or 23. Along one edge of the shifting-plate is formed a depending flange, 29, adapted to engage the groove in the upper surface of each of the rods 22 and 23, said flange being notched, as at 31, in line with the notch 28 in the opposite edge of the shiftingplate. This flange serves as a lock to the rods 22 and 23, except when their projections 21 are in engagement with the block 19, as above stated.

On the under side of the bed 1 is formed a stirrup, 32, for the reception of the switchlocking bar 33, in which is formed a trans verse slot for the reception in certain positions ofsaid bar ofthe locking-bolt 34, mounted in a lateral projection from the stirrup 32, and connected by the pitman to the lever 14.

To the lower plate of the lower slide, 4, is attached a stud or friction-roller, 36, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,) which projects down through a longitudinal slot, 37, in the bed 1, said slot extending transversely across the plane of movement of the locking-bar 33, which is provided in its upper edge with the angular groove 38. As the lower plate, 4, is moved to shift the switch-lever 8, the roller 36 will be carried along in its slot 37 to the lockingbar 33, and, as will be clearly seen, unless the locking-bar has been moved by the shifting of the switch-rails until its groove 38 is brought into the plane of movement of the roller 36, the lower slide will be stopped before oompleting its full movement by the engagement of the roller with the locking-bar, thereby indicating to the operator that some break has occurred in the switchconnections. The angle at which the groove 38 is arranged is such as to permit of the passage of the roller therethrough, while the locking-bar is also in motion.

In lieu of the slide 4, for operating the switch-lever 8, said lever may be constructed as shown in Fig. 4, in which construction one arm of the lever is connected and adapted to be operated directly from the operators cabin, the slide 4 being dispensed with.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, the slot 37 is formed near one edge of the bed plate, and the roller or pin 36 is attached to one end of a rod, 39, the opposite end of said rod being connected to an arm of the lever 8.

The construction of this form of the apparatus, except as regards the features just mentioned, is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and previously described.

In operating the above-described apparatus the switch-lever 8 is first shifted, either directly or through the medium of the slide 4, thereby shifting the switch-rails. The movement of the lever causes the roller 36 to approach and, if the switch-rails have properly responded to the movement of the lever, to pass through the angular groove 38 in the locking-bar 33, which is moved by the switch-rails. In addition to shifting the switch-rails, the lever 8 simultaneously moves the shifting-plate 26, and thereby causes the block 19 to engage the projection 21 on that one of the rods 22 or 23 which is connected to that home signal which, when operated, will indicate the changed position of the switch-rails. As the shiftingplate moves the block 19 to one of the signalrods, the flange 29 on the plate enters the groove 30 in the other rod, thereby looking it as against accidental displacement. As soon as the above movements or adjustments of parts has been effected by the movement of the lever 8, the slide 3 is moved longitudinally by the operator. The movement of this slide first causes its roller 10 to engage the prong 12 of the lever 14, thereby shifting said lever, and through it the home-signal rod, to which-it has been connected as above stated, to shift the home signal to safety. As the lever 14 is moved,the locking-bolt 34, connected to the lever, is caused to enter a transverse slot in the locking-bar 33, thereby locking the switch-rails in position. As the slide 3 continues its movement, the roller 11 engages the prong 15 of the lever 17 and shifts said lever and the distant signal to which it is connected. While the roller 10 is shifting the lever 14., the roller 11 is in engagement with the long prong 16 of the lever 17, thereby preventing any movement of said lever, and while the roller 11 is turning the lever 17 the roller 10 is in engagement with the long prong 12 of the lever 14. Thus it will be observed that while one lever is being moved the other lever is securely locked.

It will be noticed that as the homesignal rod, shifted by the lever 14, lies partly within the notch 31 in the flange 29 of the shiftingplate 26, said plate cannot be moved until said rod has been returned to its normal position, when its transverse groove 30 will be in the plane of movement of the flange 29. This locking of the shifting-plate also serves as a lock to prevent any movement of the switchlever 8, to which the shifting-plate is connected.

I claim herein as my invention 1. In a switch and signal operating mechanism, a switch-actuating lever, in combination with a reciprocating slide, a signal-lever operated by said slide, two signal-rods, and a movable clutch mechanism adapted to be shifted from one signal-rod to the other by the switch-lever, substantially as set forth.

2. In a switch and signal operating mechanism, two or more longitudinally-movable signal-rods, in combination with a shifting-plate and the rod-engaging block 19. carried by the shiftingplate, substantially as set forth.

3. In a switch and signal operating mechanism, two or more longitudinally-movable signal-rods, in combination with a shifting-plate adapted to engage and lock the signalrods alternately, and the block 19, carried by the shifting-plate, and constructed to engage the signal-rods, substantially as set forth.

4. In a switch and signal operating mechanism, the locking -bar 33, connected to the switch-rails and provided with the angular slot 38, in combination with the roller or pin 36, movable across the path of the lockingbar by or from the movement of the switchlever, substantially as set forth.

5. In a switch and signal operating mechanism, the switch-operating lever, in combination with the shifting-plate provided with a notched depending flange and two or more movable signal-rods having grooved upper edgesfor the reception of the flange when moved longitudinally into the notch in the flange, thereby interlocking the switch-lever and slide-plate, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES T. HAMBAY.

Witnesses:

DARWIN S. WOLOOTT, R. H. WHITTLEsEY. 

